nce by directing
attention to the marks on the dead man's arm which he had probably made
himself. Could human cynicism go farther than that? A great wave of pity
swept over the lawyer as he thought of the unhappy Sisily, and all that
she had been compelled to endure. But why had she fled?

Long he sat there without stirring, until the shadows deepened and the
grey surface of the sea dissolved in blackness.

"The police must be told of this," he said at last, in an almost voiceless
whisper.

CHAPTER XXIII

"And suppose the police call during your absence?" said Austin Turold,
glancing sharply at his son.

"Then you had better tell the truth. I am tired of it all."

"I might ask, with Pilate, What is truth?--in your case."

"You know it already, father, whether you believe me or not."

Austin Turold looked strangely at him--a look in which anger was mingled
with something deeper and more searching, as though he sought to reach
some secret in the depth of his soul. Impatiently he crossed the room to
the fireplace, and stood with his back to the fire, facing his son.

"I do not see that there's any more risk than there was before," said
Charles gloomily.

"I say there is," returned his father sharply. "What! Do you suppose you
can go off to London like this, leaving me here alone, at such a moment?
Do you not see that your unexplained absence, in itself, is likely to
bring suspicion upon you, indeed, upon both of us?"

"I cannot help that," returned the young man desperately. "I must go and
find Sisily."

"You are not likely to find her. You do not even know that she has gone to
London."

"Yes. I have found out that much. She took a ticket by the midday train on
the day after--it happened."

"And why do you wish to find her?"

"Because she is deeply wronged--she is innocent."

"You should be able to speak with authority on that point," said Austin,
with a cold glance, which the other did not meet. "You are acting very
foolishly, rushing off to London on this quixotic mission. You won't find
her. Besides, no woman is worth what you are risking in this wild-goose
chase. You are jeopardizing your future by an act of the maddest folly."

"There is nothing in life for me but the shadow of things--now," returned
the young man in low tones. "I want nothing except to find Sisily and
prove her innocence. I'm going to look for her, whatever you say."

Austin Turold made an impatient gesture.

"Very wel